The new metropolitan shared bicycle service, AMBici, is facing its final preparation phase. The Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) plans to launch it in early 2023. It will begin its deployment in the municipalities of Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Sant Joan Despí, and Cornellà de Llobregat. During the following three months, it will reach 12 more municipalities: L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, el Prat de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sant Just Desvern, Molins de Rei, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Viladecans, Gavà, and Castelldefels.
"AMBici will land in our cities in the coming months and will help accelerate the new mobility we need in the Barcelona metropolis. A cleaner and healthier mobility whose demand continues to grow and that must help us face the energy and climate crisis," explained the Vice President of Mobility, Transport, and Sustainability of the AMB, Antoni Poveda. The service, awarded for 40.5 million euros to the UTE formed by Nextbike, Movement, and Movus, has been partially financed with Next Generation funds, which contribute a total of 7 million euros.
The operation of the metropolitan Bicing will be very similar to its Barcelona counterpart. Bicycles can be rented via a mobile application or card ---the physical support will cost six euros, while the app will be free---. The application will provide information on available bicycles at each stop, as well as the charge level of each one.
AMBici will have a total of 2,600 bicycles, all electric, unlike Bicing. Electric bicycles have been preferred over mechanical ones because their use will be easier in neighborhoods with slopes and will help elderly people or those with mobility difficulties who use them. The vehicles, with a satellite geolocation system, will have a screen where the battery charge level can be seen.
There will be a total of 236 parking stations. At least half will have electrical installation to charge the bicycles. Likewise, at least 50% will be linked to metro, Rodalies, FGC, or tram stations. They will also be located in areas where high demand is expected, without the need for a public transport stop nearby.
Regarding prices, during 2023, the AMB will apply a promotional rate of 25 euros per year for a subscription, with 30 minutes of free use for each trip. After the 30 free minutes, it will cost 0.50 euros every 30 minutes. Starting in 2024, the subscription will cost 40 euros per year, with the first 30 minutes at a price of 0.15 euros. After the initial 30 minutes, it will cost 0.50 euros every 30 minutes.
Connection with Bicing: interchange stations and metropolitan pass
Although the new service is primarily designed to connect the municipalities of the metropolitan area with each other, its integration with Bicing has also been finalized. Among the more than 230 AMBici parking stations, there will be interchange stations between the two services, located in border areas of Barcelona with Sant Adrià de Besòs, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, and Esplugues de Llobregat. Initially, 7 connection points have been planned and will be located at the UPC – Diagonal Besòs Campus, La Pau, Baró de Viver, Zona Universitària, Ciutat de la Justícia, Riera Blanca, and Collblanc.
In addition to these interchange stations, AMB and B:SM, responsible for managing Bicing, have agreed to create a metropolitan pass that will allow the use of both services, with a price that will be between 53 and 65 euros annually, depending on the option chosen in Barcelona ---flat rate or pay-per-use---. With the combined option, AMBici will reduce its price by almost 40% and Bicing by 20%.